A Cry from the Cave

Psalms 34, 57 and 142 are wonderful Scriptures for troubled times.

David wrote these Psalms while staying in a cave. He was fleeing from Saul who was in hot pursuit. Then David tired to seek refuge in the enemy's territory only to run after pretending to be insane in front of King Achish (I Samuel 21:10-15 and 22:1-2).

Once at the cave of adullam, he was surrounded by men who were in distress and in debt or had some grudge against the ruling authority.

Through this dark and unsettling time, David poured out his heart to God for help and mercy.

Psalms 34:6 says, "This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalms 57:2-3, "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Shelah.

And Psalms 142:1 "I cry out to the Lord with my voice: with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble."

Do you see a common theme running through these Psalms?

When we are in trouble and surrounded by trouble (or by troubled people) we need to cry out to the Lord. Don't let the these circumstances shut your mouth, steal your voice or cause you to go silent and isolated. Rather call out to God for help! He delights in hearing the voice of His children. Like a good and wonderful father, God is moved by our cries. He delights to save and deliver us from our troubles.

And notice another theme running through these Psalms. David almost always returns back to a place of praise. He is grateful for the works God has and will do in his life. David has not lost his mind nor was he corrupted by the discontented men surrounding him. Rather he changed them into mighty men of valor because David chose to hold on to God's promises to deliver him.